Wal-Mart rolls back health care benefits

msnbc ^ | 10/21/2011 | msnbc

[tobyhill]

Prices aren't the only thing being slashed at Wal-Mart.

Amid rising costs, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer and the nation's largest private employer, said Friday that it is cutting health benefits for part-time workers and raising premiums for many of its full-time staff.

The news was first reported in The New York Times.

New part-time employees who work less than 24 hours per week on average will not be eligible for any of the company's health insurance plans. New employees who work 24 to 33 hours per week would not be allowed to add a spouse to their coverage, either, although children would still be covered.

The changes take effect in January, Reuters reported.

[tobyhill]

For employers like Walmart it would be easier and cheaper to just drop all coverage and pay the $2,000 fine and that's exactly what Walmart appears to be prepping for.

[ken21]

bump.

[Rational Thought]

Obamacare in action!

[TribalPrincess2U]

Boy, there are going to be some really pizzed, nastier then usual people working at Walmart.

[Buckeye McFrog]

My understanding is that the benefit offered to part-timers would have to be dropped anyhow because the max payout is $5K or something that does not comply with the demands of Obamacare. (unless you have a waiver that is)

[dfwgator]

New employees who work 24 to 33 hours per week would not be allowed to add a spouse to their coverage, either,

I think they mean they can't add a spouse if that spouse is eligible for their company's health plan, a lot of companies are starting to do this, or adding a surcharge if the employee covers a spouse, who is eligible for their own health plan.

[StolarStorm]

The downgrading of America continues. Thanks Obama for making health care more expensive.

[TigersEye]

Yep, it's directly a result of 0bamaCare.

"You can keep the healthcare coverage you have. Until my plan runs it out of business." - 0baMugabe

[dfwgator]

I welcome the day that health care insurance won’t be coupled to employment. It’s one of the reasons there is widespread age discrimination.

[GraceG]

[ For employers like Walmart it would be easier and cheaper to just drop all coverage and pay the $2,000 fine and that’s exactly what Walmart appears to be prepping for. ]

Gee, they never figure or they always figure for unexpected consequences.

[marty60]

Didn’t they get a waver from O-Care?

[ltc8k6]

They saw what happened when other companies told the truth about the increases...

Wally World was smart enough not to say it was from Obamacare...

We know it is, though.

[tobyhill]

It was said from the start that if a company had only 2 choices, buy healthcare for their employees at $5,000 a year per employee or pay a $2,000 fine per employee then most would just pay the fine (tax) and tell the employee “sorry, you cost too much”.

In this Obamacare, the employers actually have a 3rd option, don't hire in the first place.

[tobyhill]

All the waivers will expire unless they are given another one but companies don't want to continue and rely on getting a waiver each year.

[In Maryland]

"In this Obamacare, the employers actually have a 3rd option, don't hire in the first place.

And I think most employers are already choosing option 3. The country will continue to have high unemployment until Obamacare is repealed.

[TigersEye]

Or hire more employees and cut everyone’s hours until everyone is part time.

[cherry]

re:age.....I'm in my upper upper 50's and I can tell you that I am rarely sick and can out work most of the younger workers...

[marty60]

Typical Zero bait and switch. Did they actually think O-Care was going to go unchallenged. Good Grief.

[In Maryland]

And to follow up ... once Obamacare is repealed, expect a period of run-away inflation as businesses compete for labor to fulfill deferred expansion plans. The pent up demand will be released suddenly, with severe consequences.

Obamacare will be the gift that keeps on giving even after it is repealed.

[PeterPrinciple]

I welcome the day that health care insurance won’t be coupled to employment.

---

Do you know the history of why it is?